Automated screw driving machine

Abstract

An automated screw driving machine may include a hopper adapted to hold associated fasteners, a chuck assembly adapted to hold an individual fastener in position with respect to an associated component part, a feeder assembly adapted to convey the fasteners from the hopper to the chuck assembly; and, a driver assembly that takes fasteners from the chuck assembly and attaches them to the associated component part.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An automated screw driving machine, comprising:
 a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of fasteners;   a chuck assembly adapted to hold at least one fastener from the plurality of fasteners in position with respect to an associated component part;   a feeder assembly operably engaged to the hopper and the chuck assembly, wherein the feeder assembly is adapted to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the hopper to the chuck assembly; and   a driver assembly operably engaging each fastener from the plurality of fasteners received from the chuck assembly and attaching each fastener to the associated component part, the driving assembly having a vacuum tube formed of carbon fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the driving assembly further comprises:
 at least one driver; and   a bit operably engaged to the at least one driver.   
     
     
         3 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one driver is surrounded by the vacuum tube for holding a fastener in place with respect to the at least one driver and the driving bit. 
     
     
         4 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 2 , wherein the driver assembly further comprises:
 a driver motor operably connected to the at least one driver for applying linear and torsional forces to the driving bit of the at least one driver.   
     
     
         5 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 3 , wherein the driver assembly further comprises:
 a driver support structure; and   a rail operably engaged to the driver support structure.   
     
     
         6 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 5 , wherein the driving assembly further comprising:
 a cylinder operably engaged with the at least one driver and driver motor, wherein the cylinder is adapted to linearly move the at least one driver and driver motor along the rail of the driver assembly toward and away from the associated component part.   
     
     
         7 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 6 , wherein the cylinder is a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 2 , wherein the driver assembly further comprises:
 an adjustment module operably connected to the at least one driver, wherein the adjustment module is adapted to adjust the stroke length of the at least one driver.   
     
     
         9 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment module further comprises:
 an adjustment module support structure defining a channel therein.   
     
     
         10 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment module further comprises:
 a rack gear operably engaged with the adjustment module support structure, wherein the rack gear slides linearly inside of the channel defined by the adjustment module support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustment module further comprises:
 a pinion gear operably engaged with the rack gear; and   a motor operably engaged with the adjustment module support structure and operably connected with the pinion gear, wherein the motor is operable to rotate the pinion gear for moving the rack gear within the channel defined by the adjustment module support structure.   
     
     
         12 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the motor is an electric motor. 
     
     
         13 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment module further comprises:
 a first contact surface operably engaged to the rack gear, wherein the first contact surface is positioned orthogonal to gear teeth of the rack gear.   
     
     
         14 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustment module further comprises:
 a second contact surface operably engaged to the at least one driver, wherein the second contact surface extends away from at least one driver, and wherein the second contact surface is positioned opposite to the drill bit on the at least one driver.   
     
     
         15 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the forward motion of the at least one driver is limited when the first contact surface and the second contact surface contact one another. 
     
     
         16 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the first contact surface is selectively adjustable via the engagement between the rack gear and the pinion gear. 
     
     
         17 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 16 , wherein the first contact surface is adjusted at a first distance relative to the second contact surface, via the engagement between the rack gear and the pinion gear. 
     
     
         18 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 16 , wherein the first contact surface is adjusted at a second distance relative to the second contact surface, via the engagement between the rack gear and the pinion gear;
 wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.   
     
     
         19 . The automated screw driving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the first contact surface is adjusted to a position relative to the associated component part that the at least one driver is free from contacting the associated component part when the at least one driver is attaching the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners to the associated component part. 
     
     
         20 . An automated screw driving machine, comprising:
 a hopper adapted to hold a plurality of fasteners;   a chuck assembly adapted to hold at least one fastener from the plurality of fasteners in position with respect to an associated component part;   a feeder assembly operably engaged to the hopper and the chuck assembly and adapted to convey the at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners from the hopper to the chuck assembly; and   a driver assembly operably engaging each fastener from the plurality of fasteners received from the chuck assembly and attaching each fastener to the associated component part, the driving assembly having a vacuum tube formed of carbon fiber and an adjustment module operably connected to the at least one driver, wherein the adjustment module is adapted to adjust the stroke length of the at least one driver.